The Los Angeles Police Department released body camera footage on Friday showing an officer shooting a woman’s pet dog. This incident has caused public anger and raised questions. The dog, a 2-year-old Saint Bernard doodle named Jameson, was shot Saturday night after police responded to a call about a woman screaming in her apartment on the 7500 block of Jordan Avenue.
The video, which quickly went viral, shows Marie Marseille sobbing over her fallen dog, who is wearing a Knicks shirt. The released footage provides details leading to this emotional scene. It includes moments captured by two body cameras, showing an officer approaching Marseille’s apartment and announcing their presence. Another officer stands nearby in the passageway.
Marseille opens the door, revealing the barking dog. As the officers request Marseille to contain the dog, one officer is seen briefly unholstering his gun but then putting it away as Marseille closes the door. The officers, visibly nervous about the large dog, express concern about not wanting to get bitten.
“Jeez, that’s a big dog,” one officer comments. The other adds, “I ain’t getting bit by that.”
When Marseille returns to the door, Jameson escapes and moves toward the second officer, who shoots the dog four times, leading Marseille to scream in distress.
This incident has intensified debates on police use-of-force protocols with dogs. Calls for reform have grown louder as the city’s residents and media demand accountability. Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell has vowed a thorough investigation, while Mayor Karen Bass shared a public tribute to Jameson, acknowledging the tragedy of the loss.
The neighbor who initially called the police expressed regret over her decision. She worried after hearing screams and contacted the police, fearing for Marseille’s safety.
“That’s not how I thought a wellness check would go,” she remarked in an interview.
In response to public outrage, LAPD procedures regarding encounters with dogs are being scrutinized. According to the Use of Force Directive No. 11, officers should consider alternatives like voice commands before using lethal force. The directive also warns of the risks associated with firing at animals.
California lacks mandatory canine encounter training for its officers, unlike states such as Texas and Colorado. In 2017, an attempt to require such training failed. The department provides guidelines, but incidents involving police fatally shooting dogs have occurred in the past.
Past data shows a history of such encounters. A notable case in 2013 involved Hawthorne police shooting a dog following its owner’s detention. A 2005 investigation revealed a significant portion of LAPD shootings targeted dogs, but recent statistics suggest a decline in such incidents. Between 2018 and 2024, fewer dogs have been shot by officers.
A GoFundMe page for Marseille’s family has raised over $200,000. The family’s legal representatives condemned the police response as extreme and dangerous.
Marseille shared her ordeal, explaining how the family was celebrating a Knicks’ Championship win before the officers arrived. Her sister Vanessa expressed fears about the officer’s shots potentially hitting Marie or her son.